I KNOW Tavis Smiley did not send one of his employees to roll up on my blog and start talking noise all because I think that the terms and conditions of his Web Super Star Blogging contest are idiotic, demeaning, and stupid. Because lil’ ole me decided to defend the honor and dignity of Black bloggers against this patronizing power play by the Black Elite Establishment, my blogging honor has been besmirched and I DEMAND SATISFACTION! ( Tavis Smiley must really be hard up for some attention so heck, we’ll give him one more post for the heck of it mmmkay)
So Mo’ Kelly the mastermind of The Tavis Smiley Web Star debacle is catching heat from his boss, Tavis Smiley and Mo’ decided to get all swole, put some bass in his voice and tried to step to me in my own comments section.
So y’all its been like a week since I personally commented on this blog contest fiasco, but in the interim apparently my original observations have caught steam. Jack and Jill Politics and Black Web 2.0 picked up on my earlier post where I merely pointed out the terms and conditions of the Tavis Smiley Web Star Blog Contest for the tenth anniversary of Tavis’ Annual Negro Super Bowl aka the State of the Black Union. ( I cannot take credit for the “Annual Negro Super Bowl” that was the brainchild of Leutisha over at JJP).
So I get home from a relaxing workout and see this comment waiting for me from Morris O’Kelly, employee of Tavis Smiley:
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Gina said: Or you could have credentialed bloggers like any other type of media. I am sure the Washington Post didn’t have to do a frigging essay. Every post we write is an essay. I know your intentions were good Mo’, but this contest is very patronizing. Sorry
[See y'all I even included a smiley face. I was TRYING to be NICE.]
_______________ Then Mo’ Kelly SaidBloggers are credentialed…if you look at the registration portion of the site, you would’ve seen this. The Washington Post isn’t even invited…just FYI. [UM so tell me why I have to look at the registration page of a conference I have no desire to attend.]
Did anyone check the registration portion of the SOBU site? If so, you would’ve seen that when “press” registered, it also asked if you were a blogger…to be included, not excluded. [Again my deluded creature, why would we check the conference registration page when we aren't interested in registering? We were interested in the blogging contest. That is what the post was about. ]
There’s nothing wrong with raising these issues, I just implore you to be accurate in the process of doing so.[In what way have we been inaccurate? We posted the contest rules. I encouraged my readers to review said rules to make sure that they saw what I saw. It is not our fault, you concocted stupid rules and we happened to point it out. You have nerve to call me inaccurate when IIIII was the one who pointed out you had the wrong rules posted on your site. If it wasn't for me, you would still have inaccurate sweepstakes rules on your site.]
Or better yet, if you would’ve asked me…you would’ve been clear on this so there would’ve been no further misunderstanding. You already have my cell phone and email Gina. In fact, since you posted this letter, we’ve emailed each other.[ Yes we did email each other. I sought clarification regarding the contest language and you revealed that someone within the Tavis Smiley organization had screwed up and posted the wrong contest rules template. Do you give me permission to publish our email interactions in their entirety- I would be more than happy to... you and your boss however may not be. Let me know Mo!]
I’m immensely disappointed that given our personal rapport and constant communication PRIOR to today you did not see fit to communicate with me in this regard…your other concerns. [Dear, Mo' I have one Daddy, who reads this blog by the way, and the last time I checked, you weren't him. Second, how exactly do you define constantly? I got one cryptic email on October 23rd and then email on the day the post was published over a week ago. Is once every two weeks constantly? Or did you tell your boss that you had consulted with me when in fact you had not??]The truth is you’ve known of this contest since October 23rd, I gave you the heads up well in advance. [Mo this is what you said "See link for details. Gina, post this and run with it...I think you have the support behind you to win." At which point, out of courtesy (because lord knows I get constant emails promoting nonsense) I replied that I don't do contests and that was the end of our interaction until Tavis announced the contest on Twitter at which point I reviewed the rules and found them ridiculous. ]To suggest the blogging community was skirted around is simply untrue. You were the FIRST in the blogging community to know this was coming down the pike. [Um No, I did not know that you were going to have a contest where bloggers would have to submit posts, write an essay, have their readers vote just to be on a webcast only to be selected randomly ( according to your own rules) and I certainly didn't know that you viewed that one line email as some type of consultation with me. Generally if people want my opinion, they ask for it. I indicated that I would promote the contest, but that was before I knew the patronizing and ridiculous terms you concocted]
To suggest that somehow bloggers are being INTENTIONALLY slighted is simply untrue. [Um no, I am going to stand by the position that the terms and conditions and hoops you are making bloggers jump through are disrespectful, patronizing and exhibit a general ignorance about new media, what motivates us, and how we relate to each other]
Not only that, to have a direct line to Tavis through me and not acknowledge that to your readers in terms of this discussion is disingenuous.[UM Mo' you came into my comments section and announced that you worked for Tavis Smiley. My readers are highly educated people.They figured that out AND commented on it, which is why I think you have come back with this ridiculous comment. Second I don't need to go through you to get to Tavis you nitwit. Have I ever had problems communicating with whomever I choose? You ain't THAT important.] If this is broken, we can work together to fix it. [Haven't I provided you enough help already Mo' Tavis is not paying me, he is paying YOU. I have already cleaned up that glaring regulatory FIASCO of the erroneous contest rules and rewritten your blog copy, what more does Tavis Smiley want from me?]
And since we don’t pay ANY of the panelists, from Dr. Cornel West on down…it’s more than “odd” to suggest that we pay bloggers “a fair wage.” [ Paying people to LIVEBLOG your event actually isn't odd at all. The NAACP and TV One have paid bloggers for their work covering live events so its actually ODD that you would think that paying people for thier work is odd. Are you working for Tavis for free Mo???]Nobody is getting pimped here.
We’re treating bloggers the same (and in many respects BETTER) than everyone else involved.
If you had questions in that regard, I surely could’ve clarified them for you.
I get the sense this isn’t about communication or discussion as evidence by how this conversation has proceeded…
But if I’m wrong, you still have my email and cell phone number Gina.
Still love you Gina, [Well I am loveable
]Morris
Did y’all get all that? He posts a PUBLIC comment chiding ME for not sending HIM a PRIVATE email.
First of all Mo’ you ought to be thanking me not attacking me. I reviewed your contest rules and pointed out that your contest rules were inconsistent. NO CHARGE! You admitted that a Tavis Smiley staffer had incompetently pasted the wrong rules for the contest. You remember that Mo’?
Second, after reviewing your contest page again, I noticed that you have made several editorial changes that are responsive to several of the deficiencies I pointed out on this blog. For example you have removed that hideous language about Tavis making some blogger the next “Web Star.” For all of these suggested revisions, I have not charged you a single penny. You are very welcome Mo’ no need to thank me for saving your arse by catching your mistakes in your contest rules.
So Mo’ I guess this will be a test of your testicular fortitude. Ask yourself a question- Do you REALLY want moi to give this dreadful little blogging contest anymore attention than it has already received? Do you really want the little Gina laser beam aimed in your boss’ direction? Do you really want me to give this contest more than a passing glance? Do you want me to expend some creativity on this little misadventure?
Mo’ sometimes we all have to swallow our pride and concede that discretion is the better part of valor. Take one for the team and let this go. Its your boss’ 10th anniversary celebration. I am sure many of your coworkers are working very hard on this event. I can empathize with planning something this large so while I think the SOBU is a big ole irrelevant waste of Black time, talent and treasure, I don’t doubt that there is some lowly admin assistant or PA that is working their little heart out right now to make Tavis Smiley look good.
Now the last idiot out of LA to have a run in with me ended up having an entire fall television schedule of his network overshadowed by this tiny little blog. Last I heard, that little run in with me cost his employer well over a million dollars and counting. Now I know Exxon Mobile, Wal-mart, and Willie Rays Rib Shack are dropping mad cheddar on your boss, but does Tavis have THAT kind of money to burn? Is THIS the kind of attention you want overshadowing the event that your poor coworkers are slaving away to pull off? Are you a team player Mo’ or a glory hog out to capture a bit of the WAOD spotlight for himself? Is this about the SOBU or you Mo’? There is no “Mo’” in “T-E-A-M.”
Its almost Thanksgiving and I ain’t trying to start nothing and mess up my Christmas gifts this year. Santa said that if I was a very good little blogger, there might be a new PowerBook under the tree .
Mo’, I know you live in La La land where illusion and delusion are the name of the game, but you step to me with some foolishness behind this contest again, and you are going to be in for a heaping dose of reality WAOD-style. Walk away man I am really not sweating Tavis Smiley’s Annual American Negro Superbowl. You should be thanking me for promoting this contest because as a result of my VALID criticism, the blogosphere is abuzz about this debacle. You live in LA so there is no such thing as bad press. You’re welcome Mo’ now go away.
UPDATED TO ADD: There is no “feud”. There is no boycott. There is no planned or contemplated boycott. Of whom? For what purpose? If I was going to boycott something, it would be over more than a $300 plane ticket and a night at the Sofitel? I clearly stated that I don’t care about the Annual Negro Superbowl and the best demonstration of my fervent belief in its irrelevance is to not write another post about it.
49 comments ↓
Go on Sister! That contest was…is idiotic and they know it. I am with you he should have contacted you directly not on a public blog…but this is what happens when ego is substituted for JUDGEMENT.
Whoa. If this isn’t a soap opera, I don’t know what is.
Tavis is still about Tavis. And Mo’s is about Mo’ about Tavis. The notion that bloggers are to be used when it is convenient, should be put the rest after this post from you.
Thanks for keeping it real Gina.
Thanks for the heads up Gina. Like John McCain, Tavis seems to have lost his way.
Thanks for keeping it real Gina.
Somebody has to
Whoa. If this isn’t a soap opera, I don’t know what is.
Its not so much a soap opera, more like a cartoon “The Road Runner”
Annual Negro Super Bowl…Wow, this post made my morning…Gina, I luv the way you break things down with a bit of humor. Tavis had better watch his step with WAOD..Only a matter of time before the Tom Joyner show will be mentioning this blog regarding the his crazy contest. The T.J.M.S. show’s Jacky Reid already mention M.O.B. last week.
I never understood that “contest.” If you’re supposed to write an essay, why is the drawing random? Why don’t they pick the best essay? For a random drawing all you should need to do is put your name in a hat or something.
I swear, the phrases I pick up on this blog are too funny. Tavis Smiley and I are the same age. He was born exactly ten days after I was and for the life of me I can’t understand how he can be so OLD. I’m not even a real blogger. I mainly blog to promote my books, though I sometimes talk about other topics as well. It was apparent to me from the moment I read my first blog that the blogosphere is a totally new frontier. It’s egalitarian in a way we like to claim America is, but in actuality most of us rarely encounter. Anyone with a computer can put up a blog, but you only gain readers if you’re good and have something interesting to say. The blogosphere isn’t about connections or credentials, it’s about being a good writer. If you are people will come back and refer their friends. If you’re not, well, your blog will die. The blogosphere is vibrant, protean new media. The MSM monitors it for story ideas. Some of our biggest stories have been broken, not the MSM who is typically ‘embedded’ with those they’re supposed to be writing about, but by bloggers. The MSM has been co-opted by the corpocracy. This is why they lack credibility and are losing their audience. Bloggers have supplanted their role as the Fourth Estate.
I’m amazed and amused that Smiley, a man who was supposed to be one of the ‘new young leaders’ is so clueless as to what blogs and bloggers are about. His ham-handed attempt to co-opt the blogosphere is so transparent as to be laughable. He’s treating bloggers as though they are a bunch of high schoolers who should be delighted with his largesse. Most of the blogs I read are written by college graduates. Some with multiple degrees. Maintaining a blog, especially one that covers complex issues requires a certain amount of intellect and drive. Bloggers are equal to any other media outlet and should be treated accordingly. If you want bloggers at your event they should be given press passes like anyone else. The notion of a ‘contest’ to make a ‘web star’ is absurd and meaningless. You are not a kingmaker Tavis Smiley. Web stars are made by the readership, not by members of the old guard.
No one needs Tavis. Many bloggers including you have sites that are successful on their own merits. No one needs any form of validation from him, other black media forms or main stream media. And even if someone wins, what does it really mean? Not a whole lot.
Wow Gina,
I really enjoyed this post. I have tried to understand how the SOBU was relevant at all. Thanks for giving me a new name for it. I cannot even type the “Annual American Negro Superbowl” without laughing. I think it is time that the CRIC understands that the times have changed and that there message does as well.
“Tavis is about Tavis,” as you said, Gina, is all I get out of this. I know it’s healthy to be a little selfish. But I have problems with people who are supremely self-serving and arrogant. That’s Tavis, and I want nothing to do with him or any conference that he is running.
By the way, I will not forget how Tavis acted like a spoiled child and refused to allow Michelle Obama to speak at his annual conference instead of Barack Obama; and how Tavis, Al Sharpton, Cornel West, and Jessie Jackson and other badmouthed Obama, saying it was an insult to have her speak.
Note to Tavis, his underlings and washed up so-called civil rights leaders: Bloggers or no bloggers, some of us got memories.
I don’t blog, but I am addicted to reading them. I’ve learned more from and been pushed more by the Black blogosphere than from any of the SOBU events (if I type the Superbowl description, I’ll crack up into pieces). More than anything, I hope this situation makes people realize that there is some new hotness in the world and a new way to reach people and do good things. It deserves to be respected accordingly.
I’m not a black blogger, and I don’t have anything to do with Tavis or his contest, and I half don’t expect this note to be posted. I’m just a regular reader who happens, for the most part, to enjoy what you do Gina. Having said that, I have to say that your post comes across terribly. Comes across, frankly, as your being so full of yourself and your ability to tear people down with this blog that you can’t talk to them with a modicum of decency, courtesy or respect. You appear exceedingly proud of your ability to invalidate and destroy people with your posts — people who actually may not have the negative intentions you are attributing to them. It’s quite distasteful, and makes you look really bad.
I know: you’ll play dictator and tell me to keep stepping. Go ahead, and do what you do. At least I told you the truth, and won’t be patting you on the back for being excessively ungracious, arrogant and obnoxious like your black blogosphere pals surely will.
Some of these comments are so true. Since when has Tavis recently been on the side of progress for Black Americans. In fact he tried to excel at dividing the very people he claims now that he wants to recognize.
Tavis….is so yesterday!
@Tara see I posted your comment I don’t know why that would be a surprise.
for the record after posting my initial valid criticism and walking away from the matter. Tavis Smiley’s employee came to MY blog and called me a liar. Then inaccurately illuded to private emails in an attempt to attack me. I am being tongue and cheek, but If anybody was out of line here, it was Mo Kelly. If his goal had been reconciliation, he would have sent an email.
Mo got upset because some commentors insulted him but instead of addressing them, he attacked me… AFTER I helped him out and caught an error for him. An error I di not make public!
You may call it obnoxious and arrogant. I call it self defense. Mo Kelly was out of line. I never attacked him. I never challenged Mo’s integrity even when others did. So I wasa bit taken aback by his PUBLIC comment.
but thanks for reading Tara, your page clicks count too!!!
Gina, i replied on twitter before i read this post because the first time i followed the link, i got your 404 page.
i agree with you about contest for bloggers being strange. i also think adding a News & Notes style bloggers roundtable to the “Super Bowl” would be great. before Obama’s historic run, this event was the best place to sit and talk politics and policy with a large – diverse – online and offline black audience.
i also agree with Roslyn Holcomb’s comments about the style in blogworld that is frontier-like. I think this style can be misinterpreted and lead folks to give you the advice that Tara does, i.e., talking to you like a sister in the office does when she’s got your back.
i would love it if this ruffle-up ended with a collaboration between BWB and Tavis, adding a blogger roundtable to the state of the black union that even you would want to attend.
i’d be there for that.
Sock it to them Gina. Speak the truth. Maybe Mo and Tavis will come to Chi-town to see us all in action in June. It would be worth the trip for them.
@ Gina,
Thank you for the courtesy of posting my comment when you didn’t have to, and for taking the time to reply as well.
I understand where you’re coming from about the need to defend yourself against being attacked. However, as a person who doesn’t have a dog in this fight, I would offer that your initial post about the SOBU contest rules can easily be construed as a public attack on whoever created them, which would understandably put that person in the position of having to publicly defend themselves as well.
I think Calidee (post #36, 11/16/08) put it best when she said:
“Blogging is a new media and lot of people just don’t understand it. Instead of criticizing people for their lack of knowledge, try educating them.”
Personally, I think that would be a lot more civil than verbally hitting people over the head with a bag of rocks because their contest rules offended your pride as a member of the black blogosphere. You took a teachable moment as an opportunity to tear somebody down… somebody who may have been willing to develop a congenial relationship with you and to take correction from you behind the scenes, rather than be ridiculed, humiliated, and tongue-lashed in public.
I get where you’re coming from: if SOBU wants a blogger, they should approach them directly, and not require them to jump through meaningless hoops. Moreover, they should not presume the power to “make” black bloggers when black bloggers like you work tirelessly to make yourselves. All of that’s very valid criticism. However, sometimes it’s possible to lug a large bag of rocks to a fight when what you really needed was to bring some intelligence, diplomacy and tact. I would suggest that this was one of those cases. Again, as Calidee said,
“Bloggers will do all right with out Tavis and Tavis will do all right with out the bloggers. But can you imagine how much better off everyone would be if both sides tried to work together.”
I agree with her.
Thank you again for your kind courtesies.
Dang Gina. I wonder if Mo’ knew who he was dealing with? If there was any question of the power of black blogger’s, I’m sure this will silence the critics.
I still think we come out of this whole fiasco better if we can get the best representative of our medium available to share that stage with Tavis’ panel.
Though I know you’re not interested Gina, I would nominate you in a heartbeat. Can you imagine how much more exciting that panel would be if Gina was on it!!! Who’s with me?
I can’t even keep up with all the hours I’m addicted to reading blogs. Sometimes I comment, sometimes I don’t. What I clearly don’t support is a subjective viewpoint of any one blog being the best/greatest. I like the diversity, the comments and the cyber anger that sometimes results.
If anyone wants to enter their blog, go for it. If they don’t want to that should be respected as well. I happen to believe that no one needs the stamp of approval from Tavis or anyone else for that matter.
Maybe Tavis and his followers are jealous of you and your blog? It’s a pretty good one, that’s for sure.
omg, that was HILARIOUS, and i don’t blame Gina one bit. that guy was obviously thinking he was smarter than Gina and that he was going to put her in her place, I love that she put HIM in his place, lol!!! it’s like Khadija once mentioned on her blog, some people as soon as they’ve been given a little bit of power develop the “head negro in charge” attitude.
What up Gina? First, I can tell you that Mo and I have fallen out on his blog already. So, I was the first person to challenge him- NOT YOU. Plus, all black men know that you can’t win a fight with a black women even if she’s in a coma. She’s gonna low blow you, question your manhood and take advantage of a bogus double standard to make yourself feel better.
I think what you are doing has nothing to do with Mo or Me. It’s more about you presenting this blog as an ego fest. And trust me, my ego is even bigger than my big ass head. I’m 24 going on 40, until I realize that my dumb ass is 6 months away from a Master’s degree and no real job. But why? Because I’m on my blog actin’ stupid.
I’ve heard you on NPR News & Notes. I tip my hat to you. But I doubt that you’d be sounding like a teenage girl with all those “ums” if this was a job interview. And that’s the problem. Even what I’m doing right now can be used against me. But I’m younger, with less to lose.
You might have missed out on a job opportunity because you OPENLY showed that you lack a KEY job skill- that is called discretion. Look it up when you get home.
“Annual Negro Superbowl” – I’m having a T-shirt made with that on it. HI-LAR-ITY!!!
Excellent replies Tara I agree 100%
I’ve only known Morris a short time, but he has shown me every conceivable courtesy in every interaction we’ve had.
the comments from him that you posted were well put and considerate of your feelings. There is no question that there is a disagreement between you, but the only way to settle a disagreement is through dialog.
Your response does not qualify as dialog.
You seem quite comfortable grasping the opportunity to stir – or at least fan – controversy. Sure, it drives up the clicks, until the person comes here, learns that this is a vanity site devoted to showing off your ceaseless attitude, and moves along in search of intelligent discussion.
In other words, be careful how full of yourself you get. The world is full of empty-headed self promoters.
Are you one of them?
You know Tavis is just kicking himself for turning down our next First Lady for a key speaking engagement. As for this blogging star contest and the faux outrage I have one word: short-sighted. Now he gets way more publicity than he ever would’ve. Now can we move on to DL Idiot and how we’re gonna get rid of that horrid show?
Gina, you are blessed and beautiful! All the comments are good and useful. I can feel the love and I love this blog!
Wow. Some people are angry with you Gina? Mind boggling. This is a blog, not a news link or medium obligated by other restrictions.
I find the comments alledging ego; elitism; attitude problems very subjective. I don’t see you or the success of your blog this way. Your reasoning behind the creation of the blog is the foundation, all of these people can go somewhere else and vent their frustrations about your unwillingness to participate in a stupid contest or to apologize to Tavis or his cyber flunkies!
There are really concerns out there people especially when it comes to the value and appreciation of Black women. Perhaps this is an example. Are these Tavis trolls bothering any male blogs that may see this contest as irrelevant?
I am new to the original controversy, but one thing I am mystified by, is the level of vitriol aimed at Tavis Smiley.
What’s the cause of that?
I listen to Tavis (http://mokellyreport.blogspot.com/2008/02/tavis-smiley-address-sobu-controversy.html) and I hear a message of not only hope, but truth. Why is that not what others hear?
And these silly sideline squabbles accomplish what, exactly? Do we aim higher than to ‘drive clicks”?
The shame.
So please somebody step forward (no need to “step to” anybody in my world; just let the person know you want to talk) and explain to me why there is any “hatin’” going on with regard to Tavis or his message.
I’d like to understand that better.
@Walt Bennett. The fact that you think this blog has anything to actually do with page clicks means you know nothing about blogging. IF only my Mama and Daddy read this blog, I’ll keep blogging. I typically blog about some of the most unpopular issues in the Black community such as the marginalization of the voices of Black women and girls.
If all I cared about were page clicks, I wouldn’t be blogging about Tavis Smiley, I’d be blogging about Beyonce and ‘em.
@cinco you have to realize that the idea of a Black woman with an opinion who is willing to respond to public criticism without apologizing or cowing in fear is unfathonable to some people. In the same way that other Black women get called uppity and arrogant for not walking around afraid of their own shadows.
The response from these people isn’t surprising. In fact, I would say it is typical. People don’t like this blog. It scares the hell out of them because they can’t control its message and so instead they try to get you to be more docile or “civil” and indicate a lack of “discretion.” I don’t lack any of those things, I just have the ability to exercise the independent judgment of when to employ those measures.
I gave some people more credit than they deserved. This post was dripping with sarcasm to anyone who can read for comprehension. The vast majority of the responses have been hilarity. They got what I was saying. It was ridiculous for someone in the name of killing a controversy to post a comment on a blog that had moved on. I didn’t reopen the debate about this contest, THEY DID and they did it publicly, but I the dutiful sistah, was supposed to take their bashing lying down and apologize for having an opinion. I wasn’t supposed to come back swinging and to them, that is unacceptable.
@faith I’ve been pretty clear with how to have DL off the air by the inauguration… if that’s what people want. But I don’t think that’s what people want otherwise it would have been done. You have a platform and a network, use it.
You wrote in response to Tara’s comment:
”
but thanks for reading Tara, your page clicks count too!!!
”
If you want me to believe that there are serious motives to this blog, then at some point I need to read a post that comes across in a serious way.
So far in perusing your archive, that hasn’t happened yet.
This site still seems to be mainly about your sassy attitude.
If I discover otherwise, I’ll say so.
(Just a note, no need to publish: your Archives link is dead.)
“Sassy Attitude!” We got a live one ladies! He thinks I’m “Sassy!”
Regarding the “your page clicks count too.” Its called sarcasm.
Geez gina.
I can’t say enough about the energy it takes for Black women to be respected for the good they do.
I’m glad you have the energy to blog and to address the people who feel you have to like everybody especially Tavis. I’m not saying he’s a bad guy, but to come out now and ‘respect’ the importance of Bloggers, and expect allegience or involvement is stretching it. It is too late. To send messengers to defend the emails/blogs that got us talking here is crazy.
In the election process he choose the wrong road now wants to act like many of us have amnesia and apathy.
Oh how quickly people respond when a male is offended.
There are plenty of other arenas to toot his horn. Go there.
LOL Let me find out Mo’Kelly is over here trippin’. I didn’t even know he worked for Tavy.
LMAO @ The Annual Negro Superbowl.
Walt Bennet said:
So far in perusing your archive, that hasn’t happened yet.
Okay, that’s not called for. Til then it was pretty nice.
I really like this particular post and comments because it brings out some real symbolic things. I am glad that don’t take anything that was said personally, because I see the beauty in it all.
Much respect for blogs like this and blogs in general because of this form of new media. Whoa!
Ok…now that that is off my chest: Black folks (me included) often talk about unity. That’s a great ideal, but many of us are a bunch of smarties and members of the intelligentsia. I am, Gina is, Tavis is, and this is not to be taken as an offense.
I get into similar back and forth debates with others over all this stuffs that meets at the intersection of Black empowerment or consciousness, feminism/womenism, sexism, agism, the pre- and post-civil right generations, etc. That the symbolism that I was talking about. I saw aspects of all of that and more after reading this post and 38 comments.
We are so sensitive and bombarded by our egos, pride, self-image, and the need to be heard. As humans we are so contradictory. But guess what, it is what it is! No one’s approach has to change, cause it keeps things interesting.
That’s my two-cents! Good-night. I really need to log off and go to sleep.
Annual American Negro Superbowl
wow that IS funny
Gina-
this post is HYSTERICAL! i love you sister. keep it coming without apology.
blessings,
focusedpurpose
Thank you Focusedpurpose
“”"I’ve been pretty clear with how to have DL off the air by the inauguration… “”
since i am new to this blog, how in this world can we get that loser DL (the forever dancing negro) off the air? is there a link, someone please tell me, i have the “DL makes me snooze” as my background wallpaper. i am SO tired of him
“Tavis’ Annual Negro Super Bowl”
PLEASE allow me the pleasure of using this. PRETTY PLEASE. LOL.
What a perfect name for that debacle.
@Walt
Wow! You come to someone else’s blog, accuse them of not having a purpose and expose yourself to the fact that apparently you haven’t been following the blog at all.
You were willing to do all of this at the defense of Tavis Smiley.
1) This is the blog that has covered missing black children that are overlooked by the mainstream media.
2) This is the blog that has highlighted the abuse of black women, also ignored by the mainstream media.
3) This is a blog that has given a voice to many black men and women who have become frustrated with the likes of the NAACP, CBC, and any other set of initials that states they support black people, but are mysteriously absent when you need them.
But, Walt. I don’t mean to be unkind. I love to read all kinds of blogs. I’m sure you have one that also offers ordinary folk the opportunity to interact and discuss the issues of the day.
Drop us a link.
Otherwise, Gina is one black voice among many with an opinion and the bravery to share it.
Why show up simply to hate?
As for Tavis…I don’t really know the guy very well. The last time I think I saw him involved in something, before the presidential election, he was arguing that illegal immigrants were taking jobs that not even black folk wanted.
This caused a little local ire, because in small Mississippi towns, plenty of black folks in factories were losing jobs they wanted because the factories could house and pay 10 illegal immigrants for the price of 3 or 4 local folk. Construction workers in some areas were meeting a similar fate.
But, oh well. Apparently, Tavis was a man in the know for the entire black community. If Tavis says none of us needs those jobs, surely its the truth.
My unemployed neighbor wants to “whoop his @#$”, but that’s another story. Apparently, Tavis didn’t consult with him.
The last I heard, Tavis & the NAACP thought we should forge a black & brown coalition.
Translation: La Raza is much better at supporting their constinuency and we’ve mismanaged the heck out of ours. Can’t we just all get along and maybe they’ll help us too?
Glad someone else realizes that Mo’ Kelly in an idiot…
I asked Tavis some time back if he was going to work with “Bloggers” for the 10th anniversary of SOBU by perhaps having a bloggers panel.
He hit me back on twitter with the tweet about the contest which later also arrived in email. When I read the details of the contest, I twitter him back that we needed to talk because he had it a little twisted.
Was I offended? No, I just think old school media and new media just don’t relate. The contest totally missed the boat. Since 2002 we’ve blogged about SOBU and certainly notice SOBU absent in the headlines the following day.
Black bloggers, like historic black press, is our vehicle to keep and control our image in media. Not all of us are about “gossip” and “entertainment. When he asked for “legitimate news coverage” that’s where I felt offended. Often times many of our stories are only featured in “black” blogs.
This year like every year, we will host a online viewing of SOBU and this year like every year we will see to the work getting done, despite being locked out of covering SOBU.
Sometimes we make it even harder on ourselves. Hell we may even show up in LA and host a bloggers panel like we requested Tavis do with SOBU. When you can’t “join ‘em” – beat em.
Spread the Buzz
Gina, you are funny! The AANS! Hilarious!!!
I love your blog and there are other blogs out there who tell the absolute truth! Again this reeks of men who feel that they can control what women think. We are the real voice of the community, Tavis and his ilk do nothing more then give lip service.
You and other bloggers have galvanized thousands of women to take a stand against the pandemic of violence directed at Black women and children, when they (the CCBC) have been virtually silent on all fronts regarding this issue.
There are those of us who want the truth and you and other women bloggers give it to us “straight with no chaser.” Tavis and Company aren’t telling it like it really is and it’s time for action, enough with all the talk! They don’t have the courage to tell the truth! They are what I call ” in degenerating denial! You aren’t trying to appease anyone no more than they are.
The revolution will not be televised, it will be blogged!